Awards

Our Richard R. Ferrante Friend of the Genetic Counseling Program Award, S. Robert
Young Outstanding Genetic Counselor Award, School of Medicine Distinguished Alumni
Award and Victoria A. Vincent Clinical Supervision Award help us recognize individuals
who have made a significant impact on the field of genetic counseling and the USC
Genetic Counseling Program.

Friend of the Genetic Counseling Program Award

Richard R. Ferrante, PhD

Richard R. Ferrante, PhD, former Director of Disability Resources for the University
of South Carolina School of Medicine, was the first recipient of the Friend of the
Genetic Counseling Program Award. In 1983, he urged the genetics faculty to develop
the program and has served as primary faculty in the classroom and on thesis committees
ever since. His stalwart support led us to name the award in his honor.

G. Shashidar Pai, MD

Our 2018 Friend of the Program is Shashi Pai, MD, clinical geneticist with the Medical
University of South Carolina for over 40 years. He shared our original vision to create
a southeastern genetic counseling training program and served as our first medical
director for many years. Pediatric genetic counselors can attest to his skill as a
clinician, and every genetic counselor that has worked with him knows he has the highest
respect for our profession. Dr. Pai currently serves on our Advisory Board where his
experience and perspectives strengthen the Program and guide our growth into the future.
Thank you Dr. Pai!

2017 Honoree

Courtney Truluck

Courtney Truluck and family were trailblazers, the very first family to undergo cancer
genetic testing in Columbia over twenty years ago. By sharing her story with the Palmetto
Health Foundation in 2016, Courtney raised awareness for the impact of cancer genetic
counseling throughout our community.

2016 Honoree

Roz McConnaughy

Roz McConnaughy was recognized for investing her medical librarian expertise in the
program as she guides faculty and students in integrating the latest evidence base
in thesis research and clinical practice.

2015 Honoree

Lydia Matesic, PhD

USC Associate Professor of Biology, Dr. Matesic, was honored in 2015. Dr. Matesic
challenges our students to understand the edge of genomic research technologies and
where research is leading our clinical practice.

2014 Honoree

C. Thomas Caskey, MD

C. Thomas Caskey was the 2014 honoree, having created the impetus to launch the USC
Genetic Counseling Fall Symposium with his 2013 avante-garde keynote address, "Counseling
the Genome".

2013 Honoree

Faculty of the Greenwood Genetic Center

The faculty of the Greenwood Genetic Center have provided lecture, laboratory and
clinical expertise to our students’ development since the inception of the program
in 1985. The award was presented by Dr. Ferrante himself at the May 2013 Greenwood
Genetics Center case conference, at which time we recognized the significant contributions
of the center and especially of Doctors Skinner, Stevenson and Everman for their consistent
support of genetic counselor education.

2012 Honoree

Professors Rich Goodwin (Cell Biology) and Erica Blanck (Anatomy)

Professors Goodwin and Blanck were honored in 2012 for their commitment to genetic
counseling education. These professors, along with others from our basic science faculty,
provide foundational education in human development in a four credit, two semester
course for first year students. They go above and beyond for us every year.

2011 Honoree

Ken Corning, MS '93 and Angie Lichty, MS '99

Special Friends of the Program, Ken Corning and Angie Lichty, were recognized in 2011
for their teaching expertise which has become integral to the education of genetic
counselors. Ken and Angie develop students’ pediatric genetic counseling skills through
classroom instruction, interactive workshops and clinical rotations.

2010 Honoree

Ruth K. Abramson, PhD

The 2010 honoree Ruth K. Abramson, PhD, has taught psychiatric genetics to our students
since the program's inception. Dr. Abramson developed the S.C. Huntington Disease
Testing and Counseling Program more than 30 years ago, serving the families of South
Carolina in this special area of medicine.

2009 Honoree

Madeleine Will

Director of Public Policy for the National Down Syndrome Society was honored in 2009,
for her engagement in conversations and support of master of science thesis research
as we have worked together to build greater understanding between the genetics and
Down syndrome advocacy communities.

2008 Honoree

Wendell H. McKenzie, PhD

We recognized Wendell H. McKenzie, PhD., Alumni Distinguished Professor Emeritus in
Genetics from North Carolina State University upon his retirement in 2008. Dr. McKenzie
has lit the genetics enthusiasm of many undergraduate students over his career.

2007 Honoree

Richard R. Ferrante, PhD

Richard R. Ferrante, PhD, former Director of Disability Resources for the University
of South Carolina School of Medicine. In 1983, Richard urged the genetics faculty
to develop the program and has served as primary faculty in the classroom and on thesis
committees ever since.

Outstanding Genetic Counselor Award

S. Robert Young, PhD

Each spring, the Genetic Counseling Program faculty select one member of the graduating
class for the Outstanding Genetic Counselor Award, named for our founding director
Dr. S. Robert Young. This graduate has performed in an exemplary manner in every facet
of their professional education: in academic coursework, clinical rotations, interactions
with faculty, service learning and as a representative of the Genetic Counseling Program.
We always find it difficult to select just one.

Lauren Desrosier

During Lauren's time at USC, she excelled in both the classroom and the clinic, while
also working part time as a Genetic Counseling Assistant for GeneDx. Lauren went
above and beyond to spread awareness of the profession through the creation of the
first USC Genetic Counseling Club on campus. Lauren is our first graduate to launch
her career in the new area of pediatric oncology with Baylor College of Medicine.

2017 Rachel Hickey

2016 Molly Snyder and Natasha Rudy

2015 Devon Haynes

2014 Brittanie Morris

2013 Ginger Edwardsen

2012 Vruti Mehta and Audra Bettinelli

2011 Madison Foster

2010 Ravin Winfrey

2009 Sally Cunningham Harris

2008 Peggy Walker

2007 Holly Hardin Zimmerman

2006 Christina Barger

2005 Bridget Aufmuth

2004 Anne Baughman Bandholz

2003 Lindsay Allen Metcalf

2002 Stephanie Nix

2001 Elizabeth Cook Dempsey

2000 Mary Ann Whalen Campion

1999 Amy Giordano Shealy

1998 Lori Terry

1997 Melissa Bennett

1996 Jennifer Sullivan Sareela

1995 Sonja Eubanks

1994 Lara Berg

1993 Jill Fischer

1992 Debera Harris Zvejnieks

Distinguished Alumni Award

The Genetic Counseling Program has always recognized our success as a program comes
from the accomplishments of our very active alumni. Since 2001, the School of Medicine
has honored an outstanding alum each year, welcoming them to the School of Medicine
Black Tie-White Coat Gala and the Dean’s Awards Dinner in the spring, and inviting
the alum to visit with program faculty and students, often as a special guest lecturer.
We are proud of our graduates!

Debbie Zvejnieks, MS, CGC

Debbie Zvejnieks previously worked in pediatrics at the Greenwood Genetic Center and
held prenatal genetic counseling positions at Memorial Medical Center in Savannah,
GA and at Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs, CO.

Debbie serves on the USC Genetic Counseling Program Advisory Board. She also leads
genetic counseling students in our community engagement outreach to promote awareness
of the program and encourage community collaboration and volunteerism.

Debbie also serves or has served on numerous community Boards including the Juvenile
Diabetes ResearchFoundation, Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital, Artists for Africa, the Columbia
Museum of Art, the Columbia City Ballet, EdVenture Children’s Museum and the Junior
League of Columbia. She also helps manage, along with her husband Peter, the Zvejnieks
Foundation of South Carolina.

2017 Emily Ellen Hardisty (2001)

2016 Libby Malphrus (2001)

2015 Peggy Walker (2008)

2014 Katie Berrier Sheets (2009)

2013 Cam Brasington (1988)

2012 Kerry Crandall (1988)

2011 Mary Ann Campion (2000)

2010 Jennifer Sullivan (1996)

2009 Melissa Bennett (1998)

2008 Courtney Rowell Tate (2000)

2007 Holly Peay (1997)

2006 Sonja Eubanks (1996)

2005 Vicki Vincent (1987)

2004 Christine Miller (1989)

2002 Jill Fischer (1993)

2001 Cam Brasington (1988)

Genetic Counselor Supervision Award

Victoria A. Vincent, MS, CGC

Named in honor of Vicki Vincent, MS, CGC who graduated in the inaugural class of the
Genetic Counseling Program and services on faculty as a teacher, mentor and clinical
supervisor for over 30 years. This award honors a genetic counselor that serves as
an exemplary clinical rotation supervisor. The honoree is nominated by the graduating
genetic counselors annually and awarded to an individual who exhibits the qualities
of an ideal supervisor: "providing balanced feedback, cultivating the critical thinking
process, building confidence, allowing autonomy with respect for student opinion and
fostering a collegial relationship."

Sally M. Shields, RN, CGC

Sally Shields has been a mentor and clinical supervisor to students of the USC Genetic
Counseling Program for more than 30 years. Sally is a registered nurse and received
her training in genetics at the Medical University of South Carolina under the tutelage
of Shashidhar Pai. She is the director for genetic counseling at the MUSC Prenatal
Wellness Center and continues to share her expertise and experience through the clinical
supervision of our students.

2017 Vicki Vincent (1987)

Friends of the Program

Courtney Truluck

Courtney Truluck and her family were the very first family to undergo cancer genetic
testing in Columbia over twenty years ago. Truluck was recognized as the 2017 Richard
R. Ferrante Friend of the Genetic Counseling Program Award recipient.